MLB The Show 26 April Spotlight gives free player cards and flexible missions
Category: MLB The Show 26 Posted: Apr 03, 2026 Views: 249
April has arrived, and MLB 26 rolled out its April Fools' event, Common Courtesy, on April 1, followed by April Spotlight on April 2nd. Both events offer solid rewards.
If you missed April 1st Common Courtesy event, you can still take part in it now, though the collection tasks have already expired. But don't be disappointed - its rewards don't include any player cards, so you won't miss out on anything. Now, let's take a look at the rewards and new players from April Spotlight Program.

April Spotlight Program
The game has introduced April Spotlight Drop 1. This event features a wealth of historical moments, letting players relive those classic highlights. The entire April Spotlight program will run for five weeks, with a new wave each week, and gathering all the cards by the end will earn you Lightning card.
You only need to complete tasks to get some free players and player packs. April Spotlight is divided into several stages, so the rewards may not look like much at first glance. Here are the rewards for Drop 1:
- 5 Points: MLB The Show 26 pack
- 10 Points: 88 OVR Topps Now Andres Gimenez
- 15 Points: MLB The Show 26 pack
- 20 Points: 89 OVR Topps Now Carson Benge
- 25 Points: MLB The Show 26 pack
- 30 Points: WBC Gold Player Pack
- 35 Points: MLB The Show 26 pack
- 40 Points: 5,000 XP
- 45 Points: April Spotlight Drop 1 pack
- 50 Points: 90 OVR Spotlight Series Kevin McGonigle
88 OVR Topps Now Andres Gimenez
- Contact Right: 82
- Contact Left: 80
- Power Right: 70
- Power Left: 54
- Vision: 90
- Discipline: 51
- Clutch: 90
- Bunt: 49
- Drag Bunt: 46
- Durability: 95
Andres Gimenez got off to a hot start this season, racking up hits and homers, but the stats on this card are quite conservative when it comes to hitting - especially his power from the left side, which is very weak. That said, the card's strength lies in its excellent defense, and the combination of its 7 Quirks works well together, making its actual in-game performance better than the stats might suggest.
89 OVR Topps Now Carson Benge
- Contact Right: 97
- Contact Left: 81
- Power Right: 83
- Power Left: 60
- Vision: 72
- Discipline: 90
- Clutch: 95
- Bunt: 35
- Drag Bunt: 25
- Durability: 85
Carson Benge hit his first Major League home run during the 2026 regular season opener, representing New York Mets against Pittsburgh Pirates. This card is a step up from Andres Gimenez when it comes to hitting. He excels in clutch situations and getting on base consistently, but he's limited against left-handed pitching and in situations that require finesse.
90 OVR Spotlight Series Kevin McGonigle
- Contact Right: 90
- Contact Left: 96
- Power Right: 80
- Power Left: 72
- Vision: 81
- Discipline: 100
- Clutch: 94
- Bunt: 35
- Drag Bunt: 25
- Durability: 90
At the end of the event, you can earn this top prospect. He's on par with Connor Griffin, who in real life was just promoted to the majors by Buccos. McGonigle boasts hitting stats of 90/96 along with 81 Vision, 94 Clutch, 80 Right Power / 72 Left Power, well-rounded defense, 70 speed, and an excellent swing. He was a solid card last year as well.
How to Complete April Spotlight Program Drop 1?
Missions
The missions in this program are very easy to finish and can be done in any game mode. Here's the main task list:
- Earn 3,000 Parallel XP in any mode using any players.
- Earn 1,000 Parallel XP in any mode using Topps Now or Spotlight Series players.
- Get 20 Hits with Infielders in any mode.
- Record 15 Strikeouts with Starting Pitchers in any mode.
Completing all the above missions will give you 50 points, which means you can theoretically finish the entire program without touching any Moments.
Optional Collections
15 Points Collections
- 88 OVR Topps Now Dominic Smith
- 88 OVR Topps Now Owen Caissie
- 88 OVR Topps Now Justin Crawford
35 Points Collections
- 90 OVR Spotlight Chase DeLauter
- 90 OVR Spotlight Emerson Hancock
Strategies
Collection
If you don't want to invest time, you can also buy IGGM MLB The Show 26 stubs to complete the collection tasks, which will help you prepare for May Lightning card.
Pure Missions
If you're already playing other modes, such as Mini Seasons, you can treat this program as a secondary goal.
While you're playing modes like Mini Seasons, focus on completing the strikeout mission and the infielder hits mission. As you play through games, Parallel XP missions will naturally get done as well.
Moments and Missions Hybrid
If you want to get through the program at a decent pace, start by completing a few simple Moments to earn the first two Topps Now player cards, then use those cards to tackle the subsequent missions.
You only need 10 points to get the first Topps Now card. Completing 3 Moments (4 points each) will get you there. Then slot that card into your main lineup. Head into Mini Seasons or another mode and start grinding the missions.
Pure Moments
If you're short on time and just want to earn points quickly, completing all 8 Moments will directly give you 32 points. Moments in this program are generally not difficult. You can get through them with ease.
This program isn't hard, and the mission design is reasonable, allowing players to complete it in multiple ways. The only real drawback is the lack of repeatable missions, but overall, that's a minor flaw in an otherwise solid program.
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